E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | May 27, 2025 | | |
2025 Synod Assembly Update: Important Business Materials Now Available
As we prepare for the 2025 Synod Assembly, this is your reminder that all essential business materials—including the agenda, rules of procedure, and more—are now posted on the Assembly website: fbsassembly.org.
Please take time to review everything in advance and print any documents you may need, as the Assembly will be fully paperless.
You can also view the Nominations Book here, and explore helpful Assembly information and tips at fbsassembly.org.
Let’s come prepared and ready to do the work of the Church—see you at Assembly!
| | Synod Assembly Spending Plan (Budget) Forum | |
You are invited to join a Zoom call on Tuesday, June 10, at 10 a.m. to review the synod's spending plan for FY2026 & FY2027. This is an optional meeting. The spending plan and resolution can be found here.
| | | | |
Installations & Ordinations
June 1 at 2 PM: Rev. Carl Taylor will be installed as Senior Pastor at Advent in Melbourne; Bishop Suarez will preside.
June 8 at 3 PM: Rev. Olga-Maria Cruz will be installed as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Lakeland; Bishop Suarez will preside.
| | | MINISTRY & PARTNER UPDATES |
| | | LTSS Gathering at Synod Assembly | |
All LTSS Alumni, spouses and students are invited and encouraged to attend a gathering for dinner and drinks on Friday, June, at 6 p.m. at Olive Garden. During the meal, representatives from LTSS and Lenoir-Rhyne will share updates and answer questions about the seminary. We look forward to breaking bread with our LTSS family in the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Please click here to RSVP!
| | |
Whether you’re planning your first charitable gift or updating an existing estate plan, this season brings fresh opportunities to align your giving with what matters most to you. In this issue, we’re offering practical tips for every life stage, insights on maintaining up-to-date estate documents, and guidance on giving smarter through tools like stock gifts and IRAs. These resources are designed to help you make confident, value-driven decisions—both now and for the future. Wherever you are in your giving journey, I’m here to support you with tools, expertise and a shared commitment to growing ministry together. Read the newsletter here.
The Rev. Ana L. Lugo
ana.lugo@elca.org
(904) 219-2769
| | |
Vision to Action Update
If your congregation plans to submit a 2025 grant and you have not yet sent a representative to a required introductory workshop, now is the time! Only four workshops remain including one this Thursday, May 29, at noon on Zoom. Be sure to register here. You can also choose to attend the workshop in person at Synod Assembly on Friday, June 13, at 3 p.m. The other dates on Zoom are found here.
2024 grant recipients are reminded that mid-year reports are due by Monday, June 2. A link to the report can be found on the V2A website.
So many creative ideas are surfacing across our Synod. Consider your strengths and values, study your community, brainstorm ideas then bring your vision to action through a V2A Grant. V2A Grant Manager Becca Bass will be at Synod Assembly and is happy to meet with you. Reach out by email at grants@fbysnod.org.
| | |
Grace in Action May Zoom Gathering & Training
The Just Love mission is to see love established in public, which creates justice for all. With so many policy changes at every level and many of our neighbors, and ourselves, experiencing fear, anxiety, job loss, and/or insecurity around food, housing, and healthcare, where does one start to establish love in public that creates justice for all? Join the Just Love team for a Zoom gathering and training to lament, encourage one another, and dream together of a future where God’s kingdom comes and God’s will is done, where we can experience and participate in God’s grace in action: Thursday, May 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
We will also share some of the work of Just Love in the coming months, including some justice and advocacy trainings around the synod.
Zoom details:
Click here to join via Zoom.
Passcode: 643842
Meeting id: 827 5503 3514
| | |
Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy
Registration for the Seminar on Lutheran Liturgy is now open, and you are invited to join other rostered leaders, musicians, and scholars Aug. 13-15 in Minneapolis. The first Seminar will welcome Dr. Maxwell E. Johnson (Notre Dame), Lizette Larson-Miller (University of Huron), Ed Foley (Catholic Theological Union), Audrey West (LSTC/Yale), and a host of other workshop leaders under the theme “Let it Be With Me According to Your Word: From Praying to Knowing to Doing.” Intended to foster conversation about the liturgical formation of pastors, deacons, and musicians in the ELCA, the Seminar will also welcome a host of musicians and ensembles, including MN Boychoir, the Summer Singers, Daniel Schwandt, Chad Fothergill, Andrew Schaeffer, and Kevin Vaughn. You can register at www.seminarliturgy.org.
| | |
Honoring a Young Leader in Faith and Service
Congratulations to Rico Gordon, a graduating senior from H.B. Plant High School with aspirations to become a military officer. Rico was named Cadet of the Year at his school and recognized as one of the top ten cadets in Hillsborough County. He received a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy from Congresswoman Kathy Castor and is awaiting his admission response. He has also been accepted to the University of Arizona with both merit and track scholarships and plans to join the Arizona Wildcats Air Force ROTC detachment.
Rico serves as the Youth Representative on the Synod Council and represents our synod at the churchwide level. He is a proud member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tampa. We celebrate Rico’s accomplishments and pray for his continued success in service and leadership!
| | |
From the Classroom to the Pulpit: Stephanie Stark’s Journey
Stephanie Stark is living her call, teaching at a public high school daily and training for ministry by night. As a seminarian at Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary, she is completing her Master of Divinity while working full-time in public education and serving as a lay leader and media specialist at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Port St. Lucie.
Stephanie has remained deeply rooted in her congregation while growing in faith, skills, and character. Last fall, as part of her academic work, she created an informative and helpful historical video that is now featured on her church’s website. This spring, she studied the Lutheran Confessions and Stewardship as an affiliate seminarian at Southern Seminary.
If you’re considering the candidacy process and feeling called to ministry, click here to learn more about becoming a pastor or deacon.
| | |
Position Opening: Organist and Choir Director
St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Myers Beach, is currently seeking a qualified Organist and Choir Director to support and enhance its worship and music ministry. This part-time position includes playing for Sunday morning services and leading one choir rehearsal per week. St. Peter has been recently remodeled. Interested candidates are invited to contact the church office for more information or to submit an application by emailing stpeterfmb@gmail.com or calling 239-463-4251 or 239-470-3804.
| | |
Beer & Hymns at Commerce Brewing
Monday, June 9, 6-8 p.m.
Beer and Hymns at Commerce Brewing
521 S Commerce Dr, Largo 33770
Join Dr. Shawn Thomas from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on the keyboard for an evening of Beer and Hymns at Commerce Brewing, located next door to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Largo. This is a community sing-a-long event that will feature a variety of hymns and other familiar songs. Beer is optional, singing is mandatory! Food Truck onsite. Commerce Brewing is located in an adjacent building north of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Ample parking is available at Prince of Peace.
| | |
Report regarding God’s Love Made Real now available
The ELCA, guided by the vision of “a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation,” often uses the phrase “God’s Love Made Real” to summarize this mission.
In 2023, the ELCA conducted a major survey to better understand the strengths and growth areas of the church. Responses from members, leaders, and ministry partners shaped a new report, now available on the God’s Love Made Real webpage.
Developed by the Barna Group and Fuller Seminary, the report—"Strategic Recommendations for the ELCA"—offers a snapshot of current realities and outlines five commitments for the church’s future:
- Foster more welcoming, inviting congregations
- Strengthen spiritual formation and faith development
- Empower and engage young people
- Equip lay leaders for ministry
- Reimagine educational systems to meet today’s needs
This work marks a step forward in building trust, deepening collaboration, and living more fully into the church’s calling. The ELCA remains committed to moving forward together in faith.
| | |
God’s work. Our hands.
On Sunday, Sept. 7, ELCA congregations will join in the annual day of service, “God’s work. Our hands.” — a time to live out our calling to serve and love our neighbors.
This year, congregations are especially encouraged to partner with Lutheran social service agencies and other faith-based organizations facing funding challenges. A variety of planning and promotional resources are available, including toolkits, worship materials, graphics, videos, and hymn resources — many also in Spanish.
Personalized T-shirts are available from Old Lutheran; order by Aug. 15.
Share your stories and photos with LivingLutheran@elca.org, and post online using #GodsWorkOurHands. If Sept. 7 doesn’t work for your congregation, choose another date that fits.
Together, we show the world God’s love in action—every day and especially on this day of service.
| | -
September 20: School of Lay Ministry Graduation Retreat & Worship, New Life Lutheran Church, Sarasota
| | -
September 29-October 1: Conference on Ministry, Mission Resort & Club, Howey-In-The-Hills
| | | | |
